The sky overhead was bright and clear, a merry green-haired girl skipped through the busy village. The girl wore a happy expression on her face as she stopped, and looked towards the nearby lake.
Wow! It sure is sunny today! Hee hee, I could play in the sun all day long…
The girl took a flat stone out of her pouch and skimmed it across the glistening lake, where it sunk, causing small ripples to appear on the surface of the lake.
I wish Lloyd and Linus were here to play with me…
The girl sat down on a blanket of heather and folded her knees to rest her head on…
As she stared into the great body of water, a few ducks swam by waking her from her trance. She stood up, flustered. The girl remembered her task and set off hastily through the noisy town.
I wonder if Jaffar is there yet… I better hurry or else I'll be late and mother will be cross if she finds out I can't even do a simple task properly!
The girl reached the town centre and stopped briskly, panting from her long run. While she rested, she saw two familiar figures and ran up to talk to them.
'Well, if it isn't Nino.' Linus exclaimed as he saw the green-haired girl run up to him.
'Yeah! Lloyd! Linus! What is it? Are you working?' The green-haired girl called out to the two brothers as she reached them.
'I suppose we are.' Lloyd answered smiling.
'How about you? Where are you off to in such a hurry?' Linus asked, looking her excited expression.
'I have a job to do, too! I'm carrying messages for Mother, so I have to do my best! See you!' Nino said rushing away from the brothers. 'Let's do something when your job is finished.'
'She's a good lass.' Lloyd said to his brother Linus quietly, as Nino sped away.
'Yes. Hard to believe she's that woman's child.' Linus said as the sky grew darker and a rising fog thickened.
Nino stopped as she reached a brown-roofed house. She opened the door silently, going inside and away from the cold weather.
She looked around the empty house, spotting a warm fireplace and a wooden chair.
'Let's see... I'm sure this is the place, but... I guess he's not here yet. ... …' She exclaimed to herself, 'Hmm! Fog's thick today. It's the perfect weather for taking on evildoers!' She said aloud, staring out of the window.
'Yet here I am again, running errands… I wish I were more worthy, so that I could help out in battle.' Nino said, looking at her puny reflection in the puddles of rain outside the house.
She rested on the chair, for a few minutes, feeling the comforts of a home. She enjoyed the flickering flame, the feeling of comfort and the safety this house provided.
If only… Mother would cuddle me…If only she would embrace me…
Nino felt tears brimming in her eyes. She sat there alone for a few more minutes.
She jumped up as she felt a man grab her, 'Waah! Don't… Don't scare me like that, Jaffar.' She murmured to the red-haired man., 'What's wrong? You're never late for anything.'
Jaffar paused momentarily, 'My last job took longer than expected.' He replied weakly, sinking to the floor.
'What? There are things that can slow you down? I would never have expected that.' Nino said, looking a bit surprised and worried.
'If you've my next mission... let me hear it.' Jaffar commanded the girl.
'Oh, right. Mother gave this to me…' Nino searched her pouch for the note she received from her mother.
'Huh? Oh! Wha-What happened? You're covered in blood!' She said loudly pointing, changing her usual cheery demeanour to a sadder, more worried expression.
'It's a scratch. Pay it no heed…' Jaffar leaned on Nino's chair, trying to keep himself up.
'Scratches don't bleed like that!' She exclaimed rushing over to the assassin, 'Let me see.'
'Forget it. Next target... hurry... ' He shouted at her, as he fainted.
'Jaffar! Come on, wake... Wake up!' She moaned, shaking his arm, 'What should I do?'